The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-20
LONG BROWNS LIFE AND DEATH.
The Latter Was Quite in Keeping With
the Former-A Man of Nerve

from the San Francisco Examiner.
One day, about a dozen years ago, a vet
cram Conlstock gambler committed suicide
by shooting himself through the heart. The
local reporter who went to the lodging house
to get the particulars were received by
Long Brown, the friend and partner of
the deceased. Mr.. Brown very tall man,
with long sandy beard and shrewd, smil-
ing eyes, sa1 on the bed in the room where
the tragedy occurred. Mr. Brown was
dressed as few, besides gamblers, dress in
mining towns-that is to say, with some
regard to style and elegance. He kept his
SLOUGH nat on, pulled cigar, and grasped
demijohn in one hand and a glass in the
other; Everybody who entered was hos
pitably invited to smoke and drink. The
dead man had been his room mate and init
mate for years, but Mr.. Brown did not
seem to suffer in spirits
81 don't know why Jim did it," he said to
the reporters. HE didn't tell me, and so I
suppose his reasons were private A gen
tleman has right to keep his own affairs
to himself. left him in bed when l went
out to breakfast He'd been running late
the night before, and | guess he wanted to
snooze. When got back, a couple of
hours later, he'd done the job Sad? Well,
/ don't know. It's only question of time
when we'll all have to go, and it seems to
me a six-shooter is a good deal cleaner than
disease. It's blanked sight quicker, any
way. Jim was a royal good fellow, and
man, every inch of him. I'm sorry he's
gone, of course. and I'll miss him a good
deal for while. but amt fool enough to
ask friend who wants to quit the game to
keep sitting at the table just to oblige me-
Mr.. Brown himself committed suicide in
Virginia City few days ago. His health
and luck had both deserted him, and he
of lof4 To-,
by his bedside when his rigid body was
found
am trying an experiment which hope to
make success If it is shall be happy and
others should be. l apologize to my friends,
but my enemies if there is a possible chance
how busy will make 1t for them This country
is played out, and have started for those pale
realms of shade, where each must take his
chamberin the silent halls of death l don't
know what treatment shall get, and l don't
care.
1 have very fine trunk at Carson City, and it
is not in soak, either. want James Breen
to have it. Destroy any letters you may
find. And now, James, old boy, goodbye, and all
the rest of my friends Just put me in box and as
you are about to plant me drop in small flask
of whisky straight; no ice, unless it is petrifed.
Address all correspondence in care of His Sa-
tanc Majesty. He is a personal friend. and l
think the oldest resident OF the camp expect
to visit, and SO he can make it pleasant for me-
Does this look like weakening or squealing?
expect to keep open house tomorrow, but I
have not picked out the place. l am neither
crazy nor drunk. have done this deliberately
and of my own free will Don't make any fuss
brass band etc One thing | do request, that
no individual will go to any expense or say
poor fellow" The amount they might spend
would have done me good a week ago. But
again, good-by. am satisfied. | shall have @
pleasant time. shall be content it | can only
find pair o dice. Don't kill me for that! l am
old, and only in the way. So long, young fell
lows | think it's working to charm.
The Virginia Chronicle says the letter
was evidently written after the suicide had
taken the poison, for the first part was
penned i'll a clear, steady hand, while to-
ward the end it was scarcely logible.
Brown was a man OF mark among the
sports of the coast. Years ago he had an in
terest in the old Mead House on Montgomery
street, this city, famous gambling estab-
liShment in its time. He was counted rich
His friends said he was the son Of a New
York clergyman and a graduate of an
Eastern college. In appearance he was
striking, being over six feet tall, broad
shouldered and as straight as a lance
Brown had his notions as to what a gentle
man should be, and lived up to them. He
dressed extensively, liked to have it thought
that he read a good deal, and was
given to quoting poetry when not quite So
Der. His code of gentlemanhood, however,
did not interfere with the energetic practice
of his profession. He would gamble with
Auy DOOy, anu uSeu every UlcduS 10 VIII.
he was not peculiar III that respect, though.
as was shown by the universal admiration
expressed on the Com5tock by grand coup
which he achieved after the great fire of
1875. He and three confederateS struck
Tom Duncan's game on G street one even
ing for about $1,000. Drinks are served
free in faro rooms. Whom gentlemen
at the table are thirsty and say SO
the dealer strikes O bell, a waiter
appears, takes the ORDERS and presently
brings in the glasses on a tray. The
waiter at Duncan's was corrupted by
Brown. He held the tray close up to the
dealer, and while that uususpecting person
took and drained his goblet Brown Slipped
his hand under the tray and distracted the
little silver box containing the cards. He
replaced iC with another box, exactly the
same in appearance, but loaded with deck
which, when the dealer resumed work,
yielded surprising results. Brown and his
confederates covered the table with bets
straight and coppered, up to the limit, and
having the advantage of knowing exactly
how the cards would come out, in a very
few seconds had won So 200.
The dealer stopped in the middle of the
deal, looked up with an expression of great
intelligence, smiled slightly, and said, as ht
handed over the silver case;
Brown, l guess you'd better give me
back my box"
certainly" aSSented MT. brown, Will
equal cheerfuness and undisturbed self-pos-
session. Drawing the article from his coat
tail pocket, lie restored it with bow.
The dealer cashe1 the chips--for every
thing goesn among professionals-drinks
were again ordered, mutual compliment:
were exchanged. and Mr.. Brown and his
friends retired TO inaugurate a congratu
latogy orgy.
While the bonanza excitement was at it,
height Col. James &. Fair was interested or
perceiving one morning neat little shanty
that had been built during the night on
Con. Virginia ground, about 100 yards from
the monster hosting works
The Colonel strolled down TO see what II
meant. Thrusting his head inside the oper
door of the shanty he beheld one man in g
hole about three feet deep, digging away
industriously. Beside tho hole sat Ions
Brown and a brother Spectator, each witt
rifle across his knees
Whats this boysr asked Col. Fair in hi
cordial way.
This replied Brown with like cordial
~, sis the Northwest Con. Virginia mine, :
little extension TO your valuable claim Colo
nell
But you have no right here boys" pro
tested Fair; ''this IS Con. Virginia ground
"Ihe law is against you, my Soiis.
Hang the lawir said Brown. This !
orr nrntnI and wa rrOnOgl 10 hold II